HeyRuaHow to say “dream” in Irish
- Irish:
- aisling
- English:
- dream, aisling poem
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “ASH-ling” /ˈaʃlʲəɲ/
- Plural:
- aislingí (dreams)
- Genitive singular:
- aislinge, na haislinge (e.g. brí na haislinge, the meaning of the dream)
- Genitive plural:
- aislingí, na n-aislingí (e.g. leabhar na n-aislingí, the book of dreams)
What does “aisling” mean?
“Aisling” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- dream
- A dream or vision, especially a vivid or hopeful one, seen in sleep or imagined while awake.Also: vision, daydream, reverie.
1 other meaning: aisling poem
- 2aisling poem
- A type of Irish poem, popular in the eighteenth century, in which the poet sees a vision of a woman representing Ireland.Also: vision poem, aisling.
Other Irish words for dream: fís (vision), taibhreamh (dream), brionglóid (dream)
“Aisling” with the article
The plural of dream in Irish is aislingí. Here is aisling after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Aisling” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using aisling, the Irish word for dream.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Dream in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for dream?
The Irish for dream is aisling (pronounced “ASH-ling”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is aislingí. Depending on context it can also mean aisling poem.
How do you pronounce aisling in Irish?
Aisling is said like “ASH-ling” (IPA /ˈaʃlʲəɲ/).
What is the plural of dream in Irish?
The plural of aisling is aislingí; with the article, na haislingí means “the dreams”. The genitive plural is aislingí, as in leabhar na n-aislingí (the book of dreams).
Does aisling have more than one meaning?
Yes. Aisling can mean dream or aisling poem, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does aisling sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an aisling (the dream), a haisling (her dream), a n-aisling (their dream), na haislingí (the dreams).
What is the difference between aisling and brionglóid?
Brionglóid is the ordinary word for a dream in sleep, while aisling suggests a vision or an aspiration, as in 'Is í m'aisling...' (my dream is...). Aisling also names a genre of poetry.
